World Bowls Tour

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World Bowls Tour
AbbreviationWBT
Formation1997
HeadquartersGalgate, Lancaster, United Kingdom
CEO
Richard Maddieson
Website worldbowlstour.tv
worldbowlstour.org

The World Bowls Tour is an organisation that promotes indoor bowls and organises competitions (primarily in the United Kingdom), including the World Indoor Bowls Championships. [1]

Contents

History

In 1990, the sport was experiencing period of fragmentation following the loss of the television coverage of the World Indoor Bowls Championships. John Hall, the President of the English Bowls Association, unsuccessfully called for closer co-operation between the indoor and outdoor games. [2] In 1992, a player-led organisation formed the Professional Bowls Association, during the 1992 World Indoor Bowls Championship, which was held in the Preston Guildhall to promote indoor bowls worldwide and on television.

On 1 January 1997, under the then-chairman Richard Corsie, the PBA created the World Bowls Tour and after the 1997 championship replaced the World Indoor Bowls Council as the leading indoor organisation. [3] The purpose of the World Bowls Tour was to create championships and competitions to further the aims of the PBA. [4]

Structure

PositionName
Chairperson David Bolt
Tournament Director Tom Weir
Assistant Tournament Director & Finance DirectorMartin Gale
Corporate DirectorJason Parkinson

Awards

Events

Current and former indoor bowls competitions organised by the World Bowls Tour. [5]

World Indoor Bowls Championships

Scottish International Open

The International Open (defunct)

YearWinnerRunner-UpScoreRef
1983 Flag of England.svg David Bryant (1/2) Flag of Scotland.svg Bob Sutherland 7–4 7–3 7–1 [6]
1984 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Terry Sullivan Flag of England.svg Tony Allcock 5–4 (sets)
1985 Ulster Banner.svg Jim Baker Flag of Scotland.svg John Watson 5–7 4–7 7–0 7–3 7–3 7–6 7–4
1986 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Stephen Rees Flag of England.svg David Bryant 7–3 7–2 7–0 7–1 2–7 3–7 4–7 4–7 7–0 [7]
1987 Flag of England.svg Tony Allcock Ulster Banner.svg David Corkill 7–6 1–7 2–7 7–3 7–0 4–7 7–4 5–7 7–5 [8]
1988 Flag of England.svg Gary Smith Flag of Scotland.svg Richard Corsie 6–7 7–5 7–5 7–6 7–6 3–7 6–7 7–0 [9]
1989 Flag of England.svg David Bryant (2/2) Ulster Banner.svg David Corkill 1–5 5–7 7–6 7–5 7–3 [10]
1991 Flag of England.svg Andy Thomson (1/3) Flag of England.svg Tony Allcock 6–7 4–7 7–5 7–2 7–1 [11]
1992 Flag of England.svg Andy Thomson (2/3) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg John Price 7–3 3–7 7–5 7–5 [12]
1994 Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Mark McMahon Flag of England.svg Andy Thomson 4–7 7–5 7–3 7–0 [13]
1995 Flag of Scotland.svg Hugh Duff Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Schuback 2–7 7–3 7–4 7–1 [14]
1997 Flag of England.svg Les Gillett Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay 7–5 7–0 6–7 7–4 [15]
1998 Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay (1/5) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg John Price 7–0 0–7 7–6 3–7 7–2 [16]
1999 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Schuback Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay 5–7 6–7 7–5 7–3 7–2 [17]
2000 Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay (2/5) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg John Price 7–2 7–2 0–7 5–7 7–3 [18]
2001 Flag of England.svg Ian Bond Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow 7–4 6–8 2–1 [19]
2002 Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay (3/5) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jason Greenslade 9–7 6–7 2–1 [20]
2003 Flag of England.svg Andy Thomson (3/3) Flag of England.svg Les Gillett 9–10 13–4 2–1 [21]
2004 Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow (1/3) Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Gourlay 10–4 4–8 2–0 [22]
2005 Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow (2/3) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Robert Weale 8–12 10–5 2–0 [23]
2006 Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow (3/3) Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Gourlay 12–7 10–8 [24]
2007 Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster (1/2) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jason Greenslade 15–5 5–6 2–1 [25]
2008 Flag of Scotland.svg Darren Burnett Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brett Wilkie 13–4 10–9 [26]
2009–2012 not held
2013 Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Marshall Flag of England.svg Robert Paxton 10–2 10–1 [27]
2014 Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster (2/2) Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Marshall 9–8 15–3 [28]
2015 Flag of England.svg Nick Brett Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Marshall 12–4 9–8 [29]
2016 Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay (4/5) Flag of England.svg Jamie Chestney 11–9 10–6 [30]
2017 Flag of England.svg Jamie Chestney Flag of Scotland.svg Stewart Anderson 9–4 8–6 [31]
2018 Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay (5/5) Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow 11–9 5–9 2–1 [32]
not held since 2018

Sponsors and previous names

Welsh International Open (defunct)

YearWinnerRunner-Up
2002 Flag of England.svg Les Gillett Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Robert Weale
2003 Flag of England.svg Tony Allcock Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay
2004 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kelvin Kerkow (1/2) Flag of England.svg Andy Thomson
2005 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kelvin Kerkow (2/2) Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Robert Weale
2006 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jason Greenslade Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Gourlay
2007 Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Robert Weale
2008 Flag of England.svg Mark Royal (1/2) Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow
2009 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Robert Chisholm Flag of England.svg Simon Skelton
2010 Flag of Scotland.svg Darren Burnett Flag of England.svg Simon Skelton
2011 Flag of England.svg Mark Royal (2/2) Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay
2012 Flag of Scotland.svg David Gourlay Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow
not held since 2013

Sponsors and previous names

World Matchplay (defunct)

YearWinnerRunner-Up
2007 Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow Flag of England.svg Mervyn King
2008 Flag of England.svg Andy Thomson Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Marshall
2009 Flag of England.svg Mervyn King Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Gourlay
2010 Flag of England.svg Ian Bond Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jason Greenslade
not held since 2010

Statistics

Most successful bowlers (singles only)

Bowler World Indoor Bowls Championships The International OpenScottish International OpenWelsh International OpenWorld Match PlayTotal wins
Flag of Scotland.svg Paul Foster 5231-11
Flag of Scotland.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Gourlay 1521-9
Flag of England.svg Greg Harlow 133-18
Flag of England.svg Andy Thomson 331-18
Flag of Scotland.svg Alex Marshall 61---7
Flag of England.svg David Bryant 321--6
Flag of England.svg Tony Allcock 31-1-5
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg John Price 14---5
Flag of Scotland.svg Stewart Anderson 2-3--5
Flag of Scotland.svg Richard Corsie 3-1--4
Flag of England.svg Nick Brett 112--4

Youngest player

The youngest player is Desmond Lai from Hong Kong, China, who at the age of 15 (January 2024) took part in the 2024 World Bowls Indoor Championships. [33]

References

  1. "About". World Bowls Tour. 29 October 2015.
  2. Newby, Donald (1990). Daily Telegraph Bowls Yearbook 91. Pan Books Ltd. pp. 8/9. ISBN   0-330-31664-8.
  3. Jones, David Rhys (January 1997). "Jones, David Rhys. "New body defended by Corsie." Times, 1 Jan. 1997, p. 29". The Times. Times Digital Archives. p. 29.
  4. "About WBT". Webpage. WBT/World Bowls Tour. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  5. "Competitions and results". World Bowls. 29 October 2015.
  6. Sullivan, Patrick (1986). Guinness Bowls Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 136. ISBN   0-85112-414-3.
  7. Newby, Donald (1988). Bowls Year Book 88. Daily Telegraph. ISBN   0-86367-220-5.
  8. Allan, Gordon (9 November 1987). "A see-saw final won by Allcock". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 48.
  9. Newby, Donald (1989). Bowls Year Book 89. Daily Telegraph. pp. 88/89. ISBN   0-330-31093-3.
  10. Allan, Gordon (6 November 1989). "Masterful display by Bryant". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 36.
  11. "For the Record". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. 27 April 1991.
  12. "Thomson No. 1". The Times. No. 64322. London: Times Digital Archives. 2 May 1992. p. 35.
  13. Jones, David Rhys (3 October 1994). "McMahon magic conjures up title". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 26.
  14. "Singles title for Duff". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. 2 October 1995. p. 26.
  15. Jones, David Rhys (20 October 1997). "Gillett slays cool at finish to win Open". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 27.
  16. "Price falls to Gourlay". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. 2 November 1998. p. 35.
  17. Jones, David Rhys (22 November 1999). "Row takes shine off Schuback triumph". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 30.
  18. "Gourlay confirms high-flying status". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. 20 November 2000. pp. 11[S].
  19. Jones, David Rhys (12 November 2001). "Bond shows aptitude for sudden death to lift title". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. pp. 8[S].
  20. Jones, David Rhys (11 November 2002). "Gourlay retains winning habit". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 36.
  21. Jones, David Rhys (17 November 2003). "Thomson back in the old routine". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 32.
  22. Jones, David Rhys (8 November 2004). "Harlow sees off Gourlay to claim 'career-best' victory". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 69.
  23. Jones, David Rhys (7 November 2005). "Harlow employs his powers of recovery to retain title". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. p. 77.
  24. "Harlow leads way". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. 6 November 2006. p. 70.
  25. "Bowls". The Times. London: Times Digital Archives. 12 November 2007. p. 61.
  26. "WBT International Open - Burgess Hill, West Sussex: Quarter-finals". Bowls. The Times. No. 69495. London: Times Digital Archives. 1 December 2008. p. 61.
  27. "Marshall's First International Open Win". World Bowls Tour.
  28. "Fantastic Foster". Bowls International.
  29. "CONGRATULATIONS TO NICK BRETT". Henselite.
  30. "CO-OPERATIVE FUNERALCARE INTERNATIONAL OPEN DRAW 2016". World Bowls Tour. 27 January 2016.
  31. "CO-OP FUNERALCARE INTERNATIONAL OPEN 2017 SCHEDULE & SCORES". World Bowls Tour. 19 November 2016.
  32. "CFC INTERNATIONAL OPEN 2018 SCHEDULE AND SCORES". World Bowls Tour. 30 January 2018.
  33. World Bowls Tour (16 January 2024). "NUMBER 15 SEED MIKE STEPNEY NEGOTIATES A SAFE PASSAGE INTO THE 2nd ROUND OF THE WORLD INDOOR BOWLS SINGLES". World Bowls Tour. Retrieved 16 January 2024.